From Cape Town to the adventure capital of the world, Victoria Falls, travelling through Namibia and Botswana along the way. Take in some of Southern Africa’s best game parks and reserves on this exciting 22 day adventure.

Not Included

Itinerary

Saturday. Welcome to Cape Town, South Africa! An arrival transfer to our accommodation is included. Today there is a welcome meeting at 17.00hrs where you will meet your tour leader and fellow passengers. Overnight: Cape Town

Cape Town - Cederberg. Leaving Cape Town, we head around Table Bay and travel north to a picturesque campsite, surrounded by wine farms in the Cederburg Area. This afternoon we sample some of the nectar of the gods with included wine tasting after taking a short walk in the surrounding vineyards to explore the exquisite views of the Cederberg Mountains. Overnight: Cederberg | Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

Gariep River

Cederberg - Gariep River. From the Cederberg we travel further north through the region known as Namaqualand and the desert area of the Richtersveld to the Gariep River, the natural land border between South Africa and Namibia, where we camp at a beautiful campsite on the South African bank of the river.Overnight: Gariep River | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gariep River - Fish River Canyon (Namibia). This morning we take a half-day canoe trip on the beautiful Gariep River before we cross into Namibia after lunch and travel to the Fish River Canyon. At 161 km long, 27 km wide and about 550 m deep, it’s the second largest canyon in the world. A road follows the eastern rim, giving us access to several viewing points from where we can take in the spectacular vistas.Overnight: Fish River Canyon | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Fish River Canyon - Sesriem. An early start today, heading north we enter the Namib-Naukluft desert, one of the oldest in the world. We base ourselves at Sesriem, a good place to experience the Namib and its many moods. A short distance away is Sossusvlei, surrounded by a dramatic sea of sand dunes which are reputed to be the highest in the world. Overnight: Sesriem | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we enter the Namib-Naukluft National Park where we spend the morning exploring this amazing area. View the sunrise from the top of Dune 45 - a truly memorable experience. Following our sunrise experience we head a further 5kms into the desert and take a walk to Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and explore the surrounding area. Overnight: Sesriem | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sesriem - Swakopmund. Our next stop is Namibia’s prime holiday resort - Swakopmund where we enjoy 2 nights of rest, relaxation and a little bit of adrenalin for those that are keen! Founded by the Germans in 1892, their colonial influence is still evident today. Swakopmund has lovely beaches, restaurants & bars as well as many arts and crafts shops selling Namibian curios. Optional excursions include sky diving, quad biking, sand boarding, scenic desert flights, dolphin cruises, fishing trips, golf, horse riding and more.Overnight: Swakopmund | Breakfast x 2

Day 9

Spitzkoppe

Swakopmund - Brandberg. Our departure from Swakopmund takes us through the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’ - Spitzkoppe. The 1728m high rock formation, one of Namibia’s most recognised landmarks, is well known as an ancient San sacred site. Explore the surrounding area and its San rock paintings or simply enjoy the magnificent views. After our visit to Spitzkoppe we head off to our next destination – BrandbergOvernight: Brandberg | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 10-11

Etosha National Park

Brandberg - Etosha National Park area. On day 10 our drive takes us further north through the Namibian countryside to our campsite, located in the vicinity of Etosha National Park. The following day we explore Etosha National Park. Covering 22,700 km, Etosha is Namibia’s premier nature and wildlife reserve. Situated around the Etosha Pan with a large variety of animal and bird life, the extensive network of gravel roads affords us the opportunity of accessing even the most remote areas of the park. After lunch, and once it has cooled off a bit, we spend the remainder of the day exploring the park’s southern area. Keep an eye out for the striking Oryx and Springbok as these are endemic to desert National Parks! The camp tonight is situated just outside the parks boundaries, only 10kms from Anderson Gate. Perhaps a quick dip in the pool or a sun downer on the deck before dinner. Overnight: Etosha National Park area | Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 2, Dinner x 2

Today we make our way 150 km across the park, keeping a look out for the many different mammals, reptiles, birds and insects in the various regions. After a full day of game viewing, we spend the evening relaxing at our camp in the north of the park, Namutoni. After dinner why not head to the waterhole where you can sit and observe the animals which may come to drink in the evenings.Overnight: Etosha National Park | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 13-15

Windhoek & Ghanzi

Etosha - Windhoek - Ghanzi - Maun (Botswana). From Etosha, we head to the capital Windhoek for some free time in the afternoon. Departing on day 14 we enter into Botswana and stop in Ghanzi in the middle of the Kalahari Desert - home to the famous San Bushmen.

Continuing on day 15 we head to Maun - our base for the Okavango Delta. Tonight we prepare our provisions and packs for our 1 night excursion. We suggest bringing along a smaller daypack on your trip as this can be used to pack the supplies needed for this short excursion. Your trip leader will brief you fully on what is needed, and what to expect prior to your trip to the Delta.Overnight: Windhoek (1), Ghanzi (1) Maun (1) | Breakfast x 3, Lunch x 3, Dinner x 2

Maun - Okavango Delta. The Delta is a huge expanse of water, which has travelled from the Angolan highlands, spreading out to form the largest inland delta in the world. Studded with exotic islands, The Delta is renowned for its incredible variety of bird life and animals and is unique to Southern Africa.
Here we take a 2 Day / 1 Night drive into the Delta. After an early rise, we pack our expedition vehicle and from Maun we drive north for a couple of hours to reach the mokoro poler’s station. The Delta region is studded with local villages where many families live in a traditional way. Some of the villages are very remote and can only be reached by the traditional mode of transport – the Mokoro. Mokoros are dugout canoes manoeuvred through the waterways by local guides who “pole” them through the reeds. At the Mokoro station, we meet our ‘Polers’ and pack our supplies before heading out into the waterways. After a couple of hours, we arrive at our mobile tented camp situated in the heart of the Okavango.

On arrival you'll meet the local staff who will be your host during your stay. A brief introduction to the camp will show you your dome tent with twin beds and a bush en-suite bathroom – long drop toilet and a bucket shower. Relax in the tent with a cold drink or take a paddle in the Delta in a canoe. The activities at the camp include Mokoro trails and guided walking.Overnight: Okavango Delta | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Okovango Delta – Maun. This morning affords us a final opportunity for a game walk before packing up and setting off back to Maun. After our Mokoro ride and vehicle transfer, we arrive back around lunch time and have the chance to complete our picture of the Okavango Delta by taking an optional scenic flight over the Delta (dependent on weather conditions & availability). Overnight: Maun | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Maun - Nata Region. We leave this beautiful part of Botswana behind us this morning and transfer to the lush campsite called Elephant Sands. The drive will take you through a sparse landscape where donkeys roam freely. On arrival, there's an optional game drive or bushwalk. Overnight: Nata Region | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Nata Region - Chobe. We travel north to the town of Kasane where we set up camp on the banks of the Chobe River. The river forms a border between Botswana, Namibia and Zambia and is the main water source to Chobe National Park. The next morning we have a chance to sleep in or explore the town of Kasane.

Once we are packed and prepared on day 20, we leave for our Chobe National Park overnight mobile excursion – an experience in the wilds of the Chobe National Park. Chobe is one of Botswana’s premier game parks, renowned for its large elephant herds. Spend the afternoon in search of wildlife while we game drive to our camp within the park. Look out for the rare Sable and Roan Antelope on your game drive, with their majestic backward slanting horns, or try to keep a count of the Lilac Breasted Rollers that swoop by. Spend the evening surrounded by the night-time noises of the local wildlife.Overnight: Kasane (1), Chobe (1) | Breakfast x 2, Lunch x 2, Dinner x 2

Chobe - Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). After our night in the bush, we head out early to continue our search for wildlife, before packing up the camp and heading back to Kasane. We travel onwards to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Named after the famous World Heritage site and Water Falls, the town of Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi River and surrounded by the Victoria Falls National Park. A 20 minute walk down the main road takes you to the entry point to view the falls, which are situated between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The afternoon is spent relaxing at the campsite’s swimming pool, viewing the Victoria Falls, or exploring the many sights and delights of this town.Overnight: Victoria Falls | Breakfast

Saturday. Our African adventure ends after breakfast today. We suggest extending your stay to take advantage of the exciting optional excursions available at Victoria Falls, which include horseback safaris, a visit to the crocodile ranch, flights over the falls and more. Breakfast

FAMILY DEPARTURES

Parents with children and teens aged 6 to 17 are welcome on selected Cape to Falls departure dates. Children under 12 get 5% off the trip price. See the Prices / Date tab above for details.

Prices & Dates

Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. Single travellers will be paired up in tents with another person of the same gender.

Ashanti Lodge Gardens Backpackers, Cape Town

Situated in a Victorian mansion at the foot of Table Mountain, within walking distance of the city centre, Ashanti Lodge offers a range of 6 to 8 bed dormitories, in addition to private rooms with shared bathroom facilities. After a long day of sightseeing, travellers can unwind with a cocktail at the café-bar, take a dip in the outdoor pool, or relax in the landscaped garden. Kitchen/BBQ facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi are also available.

Highlanders Campsite & Lodge, Cederberg

Nestled among the wine farms at the foot of the Cederberg mountains, this campsite is a perfect stopover in the Namaqualand region. Highlanders is set on 3 levels, giving campers plenty of space between each of the 5 individual camp areas, and a 12-room ensuite lodge has recently been added to the site. Each camp has a 'braai' pit, sink unit & power. There are stunning mountain views from the solar-powered hot showers, and a locally-sourced wine bar by the scenic swimming pool.

Oasis Sossus, Sesriem

This luxury campsite at the gates of Sossusvlei features 12 individually shaded camps, each with its own bathroom facilities, kitchen basin, barbecue, and electricity points. The campsite has a sparkling pool, and is within walking distance of a fully stocked shop, Internet café, and service station. The adjacent Sossusvlei Lodge offers a restaurant and Adventure Centre, where exciting desert activities such as quad biking, sunset drives, and scenic flights over the dunes can be arranged.

Urban Camp, Windhoek

Centrally located in Windhoek (a short walk from the legendary Joe's Beerhouse restaurant), Urban Camp is a comfortable campground combining city convenience with a quiet getaway. Free Wi-Fi, a sparkling pool, and private bathrooms all contribute to an oasis of calm in campsites housing up to 18 people. Nearby is a small shopping centre for amenities, and for sightseers looking to explore the history and architecture of Windhoek, the city centre is less than 2km away.

Delta Rain Bushcamp, Okavango Delta

This unique campsite is located in the heart of the Okavango Delta, as part of the Delta Rain safari experience. Accommodation consists of dome tents with twin beds, and "bush en-suite" bathrooms with a long-drop toilet and bucket shower. After settling in, guests can relax in the mess tent, partake in game viewing trips, or go on guided walks, while admiring the beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Shearwater Explorers Village, Victoria Falls

Situated in the bohemian town of Victoria Falls, and 400m from the Falls themselves, the affordable accommodation at the Shearwater Explorers Village consists of 5 campsites with modern bathroom facilities, and 16 private chalets with en-suite showers and A/C. Shearwater operates a range of activities at the Falls, from bungee jumping to river rafting - and when the day is over, guests can wind down with Wi-Fi in the lounge areas, a drink by the pool, or even a back rub in the massage tent.

Victoria Falls Rest Camp, Victoria Falls

Located a stone’s throw away from the Artist village & Elephant Walk Shopping is the Victoria Falls Rest Camp. Offering camping and dorm room accommodation, this camp features a year-round outdoor pool and barbecue facilities. Daily continental or cooked breakfast is served at the in-house restaurant, which also offers a variety of local African dishes. Wi-fi is available and some units feature equipped kitchens.

Reviews

Travellers have rated this tour as 4.59
out of 5
based on 22 recent reviews

The tour took us to places that I didn't even envisage existing the group was great and we did get a true feel for the country.
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Nicole Burns &bullet; Submitted 19 Jul 2019

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Great tour and tour guide was the best. Great communication and organisation skills and knowledge. ”

Esther van Bronswijk &bullet; Submitted 24 Apr 2019

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This tour was very well organised with the tour leader Tabi, Driver Laban and Cook Ben. All fantastic guys. There was a good routine which we adhered to and this made everything flow smoothly. The driving was great, very careful and safe. The food was superb. Early mornings resulted in us being at camp early afternoon and making the most of the facilities. The campsites were all good and nearly all had swimming pools and a bar/restaurant. The tents were easy to put up and take down with plenty of room for mattresses and backpacks. A really enjoyable holiday. Tabi was a bit lacking in giving us important information at the evening briefing but Laban made up for this. ”

Susan Palmer &bullet; Submitted 09 Mar 2019

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Tour went extremely well. I’d recommend it to anyone.

Only thought that I expressed to Tabby is that he would be more expressive and clear about what to expect at each stop. I realize things can vary a lot, but we are new to the area and would benefit by more explanation. May have been some language issue, which is expected. However I mentioned to Tabby that he may benefit from some sort of “public speaking” training. Otherwise he was a very personable and helpful guide, especially on a on-on-one interest in us. He was definitely likable and made the tour feel like a personal experience.”

Gregory Zwadlo &bullet; Submitted 06 Mar 2019

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This was an excellent tour. We saw a variety of environments, saw many animals, had a variety of activities and really had very little difficulties (one tire issue for a couple of hours one day). I liked the variety, and even though we had many days of long, dusty driving, it was worth it to see as many things as we did. The 22 guests all got along well and the 3 staff were excellent. The guide, driver, and cook were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and kept us all on track time wise. I would go with them again!

A suggestion: at Elephant Sands I suggest there be an automatic upgrade to a tented cabin. Myself and 2 other girls stayed in the regular tents with a number of others who were tenting. It was a fabulous night watching the elephants from our tent door, but at one point 2 elephants were shoving each other and when one elephant hurried off its back foot caught the edge of my tent and twirled it around. I straightened my tent up, and slept the rest of the night just fine. I loved the experience and wouldn't have traded it for the world, but in the interest of safety, I suggest an automatic upgrade at this site, just add the additional cost onto the overall cost of the tour.”

Dianne Raymond &bullet; Submitted 28 Nov 2018

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An incredible adventure. Knox introduced us to Africa, giving us just enough information to keep us safe and interested. He was quick to respond whenever there were concerns on board the truck or with external influences such as vehicle break downs and border issues. At all times we felt safe.

The tour itself was tougher than we anticipated with very early mornings and long hot days on rough roads. But then, that is what helped make it so memorable.”

Janise Johnson &bullet; Submitted 16 Oct 2018

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I can't fault anything on the tour, our guide was amazing, the cook incredible and our driver wonderful! Great value for money and I had such a fantastic time! ”

Mariah Hartmann &bullet; Submitted 13 Sep 2018

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This was an absolutely wonderful tour! The itinerary was remarkably varied, interesting & often extraordinary, & made all the more so by our incredible leader, Matt Dry!! Under his guidance we were acquainted with many of the most beautiful places in Southern Africa, & were provided with endlessly entertaining facts & figures concerning the history of the regions & of the people & creatures living therein - I learnt so much! As an introduction to this fascinating part of the world, & if you like wildlife, then this tour is surely unequalled! It was a joy from start to finish, providing experiences & excursions that will remain embedded in your mind forever! If you're thinking of going, then don't hesitate - It's the trip of a lifetime!!!”

Keith Budd &bullet; Submitted 09 Nov 2017

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We enjoyed the tour. Long days as expected on the truck for the first week we weren't sure if this was the part of Africa we expected. It was mostly geology, which while interesting made everyone wonder when the animals and wilderness camping would start. After that it did start and was amazing and just got better each stop after Swakopmund. Amazing experences and close proximity to wildlife. We would have liked more nights of back country camping such as we had in the Okavango Delta and Chobe and thought most nights would have been in these type of locations rather than urban campgrounds. That said, it was a rewarding adventure with a great Crew of David, Ian and Munya. ”

Francis Potter &bullet; Submitted 01 Nov 2017

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Excellent guide who worked hard to ensure the trip went well. Always going out of his way to make the trip fun. He was well organized and cared for is all.”

Life can be unpredictable and we understand that sometimes it’s necessary to change your travel plans. With our LIFETIME DEPOSIT guarantee, you can book our Signature tours safe in the knowledge that if you’re unable to travel, your deposit is fully transferable and will be held for an unlimited time. Conditions apply.

Zimbabwe Overland Camping Safaris

Our overland safaris to Zimbabwe are multi-country itineraries, combining the highlights of many of Africa's top destinations.

With lots of overland safaris that start or finish in Victoria Falls, you can visit the famous waterfalls and enjoy adrenaline activities galore. You'll travel aboard our overland trucks that seat 28 - 30 travellers and carry all the equipment necessary for camping and cooking on the trip. On our camping safaris, group participation is crucial and you’ll assist with camp chores, preparation of meals and erecting & dismantling your tent. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, possess relative fitness, a relaxed attitude, and are not averse to the odd hiccup, then overlanding is for you.

Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. Single travellers will be paired up in tents with another person of the same gender.

Families with children and teens aged 6 - 17 are welcome on select departures of this safari. Children under 12 get 5% off the trip price (no reduction of the Local Payment). Please note that independent travellers aged 18 and over will also travel on these dates, these departures are not just for families.

Local Payment

This trip has a local payment. It is this payment which covers entrance fees, camping fees and meals as detailed for this itinerary. The local payment is in addition to the prices specified and is to be paid directly to the tour leader on Day 1 of the trip. The payment should be made in cash, in the currency specified.

Please note that due to exchange rate fluctuations, as well as potential changes to park entrance fees, the local payment amount may be subject to change. We will however inform you of any such changes as soon as we are aware of them.

Budget

Value and Freedom

Our Budget range is the perfect choice for independent spirits travelling on a shoestring. As well as guided sightseeing of the key highlights, there’s also ample free time to explore independently or partake in optional excursions that maximise your time in each destination. Few meals are included, allowing you the freedom to choose exactly where you eat and spend your evenings out, with the added bonus of enabling you to stay in control of your spending.

Many tours in this range include a local payment and this pricing system helps keep costs down so you can be sure we’re delivering the best possible value. You’ll be travelling by both private and public transport – think buses, trains and feluccas. Accommodation ranges from dome tents to a surprise 4-star hotel at a 3-star price. And with a maximum group size of 32, these tours are designed to create a social and fun travel experience.

Guaranteed Departures

This tour is 100% guaranteed to depart with travellers.

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For all our tours and tailor-made holidays we provide you with a clear categorisation of all hotels we use. The REGIONAL CATEGORY indicates the local rating of each hotel in each respective country. We have also rated each hotel using OUR CATEGORY, which will be in line with generally accepted western hotel grading standards.

SimpleBasic hotels and simple accommodation is a no frills option with an adventurous authentic feel.

StandardStandard accommodation equates to a Western 3-star standard, always featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant.

SuperiorSuperior accommodation equates to a Western 4-star standard, featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant and often a swimming pool and/or a fitness centre.

DeluxeDeluxe accommodation equates to a Western 5-star standard, usually featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, excellent service and customer care.

LavishLavish accommodation equates to a Western 5-star plus standard - the creme de la creme. Featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, this accommodation is a cut above the rest. Sheer opulence!